6 Things You Should Never Do Before Selling Your Home

When it comes time to put your house on the market, there are a few things you should always do — paint trim, clean up your lawn, and vacuum. But the conversation around selling your home typically revolves around what a homeowner should do. But what about what you shouldn’t do yourself?

1. Repair Drywall

The night before an open house isn’t the time to try something new. If there’s a small dent in your wall from your dog or the doorknob, call a professional.

2. Update Your HVAC System

If you don’t moonlight as an HVAC technician, stay far, far away from your heating and cooling system. Because they’re typically connected to electrical or gas (and sometimes both), one mistake can blow out your system and affect other appliances.

3. Install a Dishwasher

The average semi-handy homeowner can probably handle installing a refrigerator or stove, but you don’t want to try installing a dishwasher. Because its drainage is difficult to hookup, you could be setting yourself up for a kitchen flood in no time.

4. Tree Removal

Think of trees like icebergs, what you see may only be a small percentage of how big the tree really is. Even a small tree can have roots that bury themselves several feet in the ground.

5. Electrical Work

Especially in older homes, which don’t have the safety precautions (like kill switches) that newer ones do, you should never attempt serious electrical work.

6. Extensive Plumbing Work

Don’t get us wrong — getting rid of a clog or fixing a leaking toilet are 100% things that should be done before putting your house on the market. What you shouldn’t do is attempt to cut pipes, boost water pressure, or install a new toilet.